Reese’s Cocoa Krispie Treats

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45 minutes

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These Reese’s Cocoa Krispie Treats are loaded with a mouthwatering combination of rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter and crunchy pretzels. Together they make a tasty no-bake treat that’s always a hit and absolutely perfect for any occasion.

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Cocoa Krispie Treats stackes on white plate

If you love sweet and salty desserts, you’ll want to give these incredible Cocoa Krispie treats a try. With Cocoa Krispies, gooey melted marshmallows, peanut butter cups and crunchy pretzels, this treat will make everyone’s mouth water!

You can never with chocolate and peanut butter together and these no bake treats are loaded with flavor. It’s a decadent dessert that takes the original recipe to a whole new level!

If you love this flavor combination as much as we do, you’ll also want to check out these Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting and Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownies.

Cocoa Krispie Treats on white plate

Why We Love This Recipe

Easy to make – This recipe makes a super easy no-bake dessert that you can whip up in just 15 minutes.

Kid-friendly– Kids and adults alike will love these. They’re perfect for children’s parties, an after-school snack, or just any time those chocolate cravings hit.

Delicious flavors- The chocolatey taste of the Cocoa Krispies treats pairs perfectly with creamy peanut butter and the saltiness from the pretzels adds a tasty finishing touch.

Reeses Cocoa Krispie Treats Ingredients

For the Cocoa Krispies

  • Unsalted butter
  • Salt
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Pure vanilla extract
  • Cocoa Krispies (or any chocolate rice cereal)
  • Pretzel twists, broken into pieces
  • Reese’s minis
  • Reese’s chips

For the Peanut Butter Frosting:

  • Unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • Creamy peanut butter
  • Pure vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk or heavy whipping cream

Additional Toppings:

  • Pretzels
  • Reese’s cups
  • Reese’s chips

How to Make Cocoa Krispie Treats

For the Treats

Step 1: Lightly spray the inside of an 11×14 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 2: Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat, then add salt.

Step 3: Reserve 1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows and set them aside to use later. Add the remaining marshmallows and stir over low heat until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.

Melted butter in pan
Marshmallows added to melted butter

Step 4: Once the the marshmallows have melted, remove from heat and add the chocolate cereal, the 1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows set aside earlier, pretzels, Reese’s minis and chips.

Melted marshmallows in pan
Ingredients for cocoa krispie treats in pan

Step 5. Carefully fold together until evenly distributed. Be gentle so you don’t break up the ingredients too much.

Step 6. Spread mixture into the prepared baking dish and lightly press it down into an even layer using a rubber spatula. Don’t pack it too firmly or your treats may be too compact and hard to bite into.

Cocoa krispie treats ingredients mixed
Cocoa krispie treats ingredients in baking pan

For the Frosting and Toppings

Step 1. Add the butter and peanut butter to a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy.

Peanut butter and butter
Butter and peanut butter mixed in bowl

Step 2. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt, mixing until incorporated.

Peanut butter mixture with vanilla and salt
Peanut butter mixture with salt and vanilla

Step 3. Gradually add in the powdered sugar. Mix together on low speed until fully incorporated.

Powdered sugar and peanut butter mixture
Peanut butter mixture in glass

Step 4. Add the milk or heavy whipping cream and beat on high speed for about 1 minute or until you get a thick and spreadable frosting.

Peanut butter mixture with milk
Peanut butter frosting for cocoa krispie treats

Step 5. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting over the top in an even layer.

Step 6. Top with additional chopped Reese’s, pretzels, and peanut butter chips.

Cocoa Krispie treats with peanut butter frosting
Cocoa krispie treats topped with reeses and pretzels

Step 7. Leave at at room temperature for 30 minutes before cutting into bars. This will help it set and keep a square shape.

Reeses peanut butter cocoa krispie treats
Cocoa krispie treats on white counter
How Do I Store Rice Cereal Treats?

These are the best eaten the same day you make them. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days. If they’re cut into individual squares, wrapping them in wax paper will help make sure they stay fresh.

If they end up hardening, you can slightly warm them up in the microwave for about 15 seconds at a time on the lowest setting, until they are softened. Be sure you don’t overheat though or the frosting will melt.

Can I Freeze Them?

It’s not recommended that you freezer leftovers. When you thaw them, condensation usually forms on their surface, making them soggy and less crispy.

Cocoa Krispie Treats cut into squares

Recipe Add-ins and Variations

  • Chocolate chips: Instead of peanut butter chips, stir in some white chocolate or milk chocolate chips for a little bit of added chocolaty goodness.
  • Caramel: Drizzle small pieces of caramel candy into the marshmallow mixture while it’s still warm. It makes the treats extra gooey!
  • Nutella: Instead of peanut butter frosting, give it a hazelnut flavor by using Nutella spread instead.  
  • Toasted coconut flakes: Mix in toasted coconut flakes for a slight bit of extra crunch.
  • M&M’s: You can add colorful M&M’s to give it a burst of color and a satisfying crunch.
  • Chopped nuts: Nuts are always a great addition. Mix in any of your favorite nuts like chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts. You can also use them as additional toppings.
  • Oreo cookies: Crush some Oreo cookies and add them to the top of the frosting. Cookies-and-cream makes everything even better!
  • Regular Rice Krispies: If you prefer to use regular rice cereal instead of chocolate, you can certainly swap them out in equal amounts.
Peanut butter cocoa krispie treat on a white plate from above

Can I Make This Recipe in the Microwave?

Sure! Just melt the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl on medium power. Then work quickly to add the other ingredients.

Peanut butter cocoa krispie treat on a white plate

Rice Krispie Treats Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • When making Rice Krispie treats, make sure to measure the ingredients accurately so the treats stay nice and chewy. Using too few marshmallows can result in dry and crumbly treats while using too many marshmallows can make them too soft to handle.
  • When melting the marshmallows and butter, do it over low heat because the sugar content can cause the mixture to burn easily. Once the marshmallows are gooey and smooth, remove from heat and stir well, making sure to scrape the bottom.
  • Once the marshmallow and butter mixture is melted, add the cereal and other ingredients immediately and stir quickly to coat the cereal evenly.   
  • When you pour the mixture into the pan, gently press the treats using a spatula or the back of a greased spoon. Try to get them in an even layer so that the squares are all the same thickness when you cut them.
  • You’ll want to let them cool completely but you can speed up the process by placing the pan in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
  • Be sure to use the right size pan. For this recipe, we don’t recommend using a 9 x 13 or smaller dish because once you add the toppings, they add a good bit of thickness.
Peanut butter cocoa krispie treat with a bite taken out

More Rice Krispie Treats Recipes

If you’re like us and think Rice Krispie Treats are the best snack ever, you’re going to love these fun variations!

Reeses Cocoa Rice Krispie Treats square
5 from 1 vote

Reeses Cocoa Krispie Treats


Course Desserts & Sweets
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
These Cocoa Krispie Treats with Reeses are loaded rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter and crunchy, salty pretzels for a decadent treat that's perfect for any occasion!

Ingredients
 

For The Treats

For The Frosting

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened at room temperature
  • cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk or heavy whipping cream

Instructions

For the Treats

  • Lightly spray the inside of an 11×14 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat, then add salt.
    8 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Reserve 1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows and set them aside to use later. Add the remaining marshmallows and stir over low heat until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.
    10 ounces mini marshmallows
  • Once the the marshmallows have melted, remove from heat and add the chocolate cereal, the 1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows set aside earlier, pretzels, Reese’s minis and chips.
    10 ounces mini marshmallows, 8 cups Cocoa Krispies cereal, 1 ½ cups pretzel twists, ½ cup Reese’s peanut butter cup minis, ¼ cup Reese’s peanut butter chips
  • Carefully fold together until evenly distributed. Be gentle so you don’t break up the ingredients too much.
  • Spread mixture into the prepared baking dish and lightly press it down into an even layer using a rubber spatula. Don’t pack it too firmly or your treats may be too compact and hard to bite into.

For the Frosting and Toppings

  • Add the butter and peanut butter to a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy.
    3 tablespoons unsalted butter, ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
  • Stir in the vanilla extract and salt, mixing until incorporated.
    ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Gradually add in the powdered sugar. Mix together on low speed until fully incorporated.
    1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • Add the milk or heavy whipping cream and beat on high speed for about 1 minute or until you get a thick and spreadable frosting.
    2 tablespoons milk
  • Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting over the top in an even layer.
  • Top with additional chopped Reese’s, pretzels, and peanut butter chips.
    pretzels, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Reese’s peanut butter chips
  • Leave at at room temperature for 30 minutes before cutting into bars. This will help it set and keep a square shape.

Notes

  • When melting the marshmallows and butter together, be sure to use low heat because the sugar content can cause the mixture to burn easily. Once the marshmallows are melted, remove from heat and stir well.
  • Once the marshmallow and butter mixture is completely melted, add the rest of the ingredients immediately and stir quickly to coat the cereal evenly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 336mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 1088IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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